At dawn we slept...in the cab on the way back from Olongapo

[RangerJoe]

ORIGINAL: Chickenboy

ORIGINAL: RangerJoe

ORIGINAL: Chickenboy




Hai! Erm...Yawohl!

It is spelled with a "j" as in "Jawohl!"

Hai! Erm...Arigato! Erm...Danke!

Bitte!

[Zorch]

ORIGINAL: RangerJoe

ORIGINAL: Chickenboy

ORIGINAL: RangerJoe




It is spelled with a "j" as in "Jawohl!"

Hai! Erm...Arigato! Erm...Danke!

Bitte!

Mandrake has been taken prisoner in an alpine castle, Schloss Adelberg.

[Zorch]

ORIGINAL: Zorch

ORIGINAL: RangerJoe

ORIGINAL: Chickenboy




Hai! Erm...Arigato! Erm...Danke!

Bitte!

Mandrake has been taken prisoner in an alpine castle, Schloss Adelberg.

But the Germans are on to them.

[Zorch]

ORIGINAL: Zorch

ORIGINAL: Zorch

ORIGINAL: RangerJoe




Bitte!

Mandrake has been taken prisoner in an alpine castle, Schloss Adelberg.

But the Germans are on to them.

And of course there are ladies.

[Zorch]

ORIGINAL: Zorch

ORIGINAL: Zorch

ORIGINAL: Zorch



Mandrake has been taken prisoner in an alpine castle, Schloss Adelberg.

But the Germans are on to them.

And of course there are ladies.

But all is well, our heroes are on the job.

[Cap Mandrake]

Hospital week. It's hard work...and these are the newborns. 9 months ago there was no pandemic so prospective parents were busy trying to make little copies of themselves.

No visitors at the hospital. They have a crew with an IR temp scanner at the door to scan your forehead. Each day I kept getting colder readings 97.8...97.6...97.4. By the third day I was pretty sure I needed my thyroid checked but then I realized it's an IR scanner ..it's just reading skin surface temperature even if the put it over the temporal artery....so the last day I park as close as possible and stick my left temporal area inches away from the Korean A/C vent in the snazzy sports car. I wait 2 minutes until my teeth start to hurt then I walk in the shade up the door meditating to keep my heart rate down.......96.4...IT'S A NEW WORLD RECORD!

[RangerJoe]

ORIGINAL: Cap Mandrake

Hospital week. It's hard work...and these are the newborns. 9 months ago there was no pandemic so prospective parents were busy trying to make little copies of themselves.

No visitors at the hospital. They have a crew with an IR temp scanner at the door to scan your forehead. Each day I kept getting colder readings 97.8...97.6...97.4. By the third day I was pretty sure I needed my thyroid checked but then I realized it's an IR scanner ..it's just reading skin surface temperature even if the put it over the temporal artery....so the last day I park as close as possible and stick my left temporal area inches away from the Korean A/C vent in the snazzy sports car. I wait 2 minutes until my teeth start to hurt then I walk in the shade up the door meditating to keep my heart rate down.......96.4...IT'S A NEW WORLD RECORD!

Thank you for telling us how to beat the IR scanners. [;)]

[Cap Mandrake]

************Feb 8, 1943(e)*********

New and Improved Guinea and Ceram: Finally, the staff is ordered not to refuel the DD's for the 3rd day in a row and I send in "Ching" Lee to shoot 'em up. This he does well.

Night Time Surface Combat, near Boela at 80,110, Range 4,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
PB Chitose Maru, Shell hits 6, heavy fires, heavy damage
PB Edo Maru, Shell hits 15, and is sunk
AK Toei Maru, Shell hits 16, and is sunk

Allied Ships
CA Wichita
DD Waller
DD Wilson
DD Stronghold

Japanese ground losses:
539 casualties reported
Squads: 8 destroyed, 13 disabled
Non Combat: 34 destroyed, 32 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

[Cap Mandrake]

good bombardment too.

Night Naval bombardment of Boela at 80,110

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-44-IIa Tojo: 3 damaged
Ki-43-Ia Oscar: 1 damaged

Allied Ships
CA Wichita
DD Stronghold
DD Wilson
DD Waller

Japanese ground losses:
292 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 17 disabled
Engineers: 2 destroyed, 4 disabled

Airbase hits 5
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 27

SOC-1 Seagull acting as spotter for CA Wichita
CA Wichita firing at Boela
DD Stronghold firing at 65th Brigade
DD Wilson firing at 65th Brigade
DD Waller firing at Boela

[Cap Mandrake]

Poor Chitose Maru can't catch any luck

Submarine attack near Boela at 80,109

Japanese Ships
PB Chitose Maru, heavy fires, heavy damage

Allied Ships
SS Amberjack

PB Chitose Maru is sighted by SS Amberjack
Captain of SS Amberjack elects not to launch torpedoes at this target


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack near Boela at 80,109

Japanese Ships
PB Chitose Maru, Torpedo hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage

Allied Ships
SS Peto

Japanese ground losses:
19 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 3 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

[Cap Mandrake]

YMS-116 is sent from picket duty North of Rabaul to scare off Jap transports at Manokwari.

[:D] This kind of stuff is so fun. Invasionus Interrputis

Day Time Surface Combat, near Manokwari at 85,109, Range 15,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
xAK Kamikaze Maru, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAK Tenryu Maru
xAK Kunitu Maru
xAK Seizan Maru, heavy damage

Allied Ships
YMS-116

[Cap Mandrake]

Another big fighter sweep over Sorong. I'm not sure if they are simply suppressing our northernmost AF's or getting ready for a landing. We need more supply up there. It's only trickling up from Babo because of the crappy terrain..2 swamp hexes and 3 jungle hexes.

Morning Air attack on Sorong , at 82,107

Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid spotted at 33 NM, estimated altitude 27,810 feet.
Estimated time to target is 9 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M3a Zero x 40

[Cap Mandrake]

Why are we fighting over Manokwari? Beats the s*** out of me. The only reason we have troops there is a damaged AP had to off-load a few men of 44 Div there a few months ago and they decided to spruce the place up a bit. It's still a s***hole. The are getting enough supplies overland from Babo to avoid starvation and support some Catalinas.

Morning Air attack on 10th LH Cav Regiment, at 85,109 (Manokwari)

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid spotted at 18 NM, estimated altitude 8,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 5 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 19
Ki-43-IIa Oscar x 12
Ki-49-IIa Helen x 20

No Japanese losses

Allied ground losses:
21 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Aircraft Attacking:
20 x Ki-49-IIa Helen bombing from 6000 feet *
Ground Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb

Also attacking 44th British/B Div /4 ...
Also attacking 10th LH Cav Rgt /3 ...

[Cap Mandrake]

Sorong gets a light dusting of HE

Morning Air attack on Sorong , at 82,107

Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid spotted at 18 NM, estimated altitude 8,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 5 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-49-IIa Helen x 13

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-49-IIa Helen: 4 damaged

Airbase hits 2
Runway hits 2

[Cap Mandrake]

This is new. A CVE at Manokwari. Nice escort package...TBF's with bombs because of the range. Too many Zekes. Too bad.

Morning Air attack on TF, near Manokwari at 85,109

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid spotted at 20 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 9 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 22

Allied aircraft
Beaufighter VIc x 1
P-40K Warhawk x 10
F4U-1 Corsair x 9
TBF-1 Avenger x 15

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
P-40K Warhawk: 1 destroyed
F4U-1 Corsair: 1 destroyed
TBF-1 Avenger: 3 destroyed, 4 damaged

Japanese Ships
CVE Chuyo

Aircraft Attacking:
2 x TBF-1 Avenger bombing from 10000 feet *
Naval Attack: 2 x 500 lb SAP Bomb
4 x TBF-1 Avenger bombing from 10000 feet *
Naval Attack: 2 x 500 lb SAP Bomb
6 x TBF-1 Avenger bombing from 10000 feet *
Naval Attack: 2 x 500 lb GP Bomb

[Cap Mandrake]

2 more squadron remnants arrive later and do much better because the CAP is now disorganized.

Morning Air attack on TF, near Manokwari at 85,109

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid spotted at 20 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 9 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 8

Allied aircraft
TBF-1 Avenger x 21

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
TBF-1 Avenger: 1 destroyed, 7 damaged

Japanese Ships
xAK Tenryu Maru, Bomb hits 1
xAK Kunitu Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire
CVE Chuyo, Bomb hits 1
xAK Kamikaze Maru, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAK Seizan Maru, Bomb hits 5, heavy fires, heavy damage

[Cap Mandrake]

Good escorts...target on fire...the RAAF just are good enough at torpedo attacks yet.

Morning Air attack on TF, near Manokwari at 85,109

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid spotted at 35 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 11 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 3

Allied aircraft
Hurricane IIc Trop x 1
Beaufort VIII x 12
P-40K Warhawk x 11

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 2 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
Beaufort VIII: 2 damaged

Japanese Ships
CVE Chuyo, on fire
xAP Asama Maru

[Cap Mandrake]

Ground attack. we are up against 1st Raiding Regt. and some aviation support guys. Evidentarry Japan-mens expect arready own airfierd.

Morning Air attack on 1st Raiding Regiment, at 85,109 (Manokwari)

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid spotted at 33 NM, estimated altitude 9,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 10 minutes

Allied aircraft
Beaufort VIII x 4
Mitchell II x 10
B-24D Liberator x 11
B-25C Mitchell x 6

Allied aircraft losses
Mitchell II: 1 damaged
B-24D Liberator: 1 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
48 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

[Cap Mandrake]

I send the 17's over Boela because they can handle fighters better. Precious resource

Morning Air attack on Boela , at 80,110

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid detected at 30 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 9 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 20
A6M3a Zero x 20
Ki-43-Ia Oscar x 4
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 6

Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 3
B-17F Fortress x 10

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-44-IIa Tojo: 1 damaged
Ki-44-IIa Tojo: 1 destroyed on ground
F1M2 Pete: 1 destroyed on ground

Allied aircraft losses
B-17F Fortress: 1 destroyed, 1 damaged

Airbase hits 2
Runway hits 3

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 9000 feet
Airfield Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb
9 x B-17F Fortress bombing from 9000 feet *
Airfield Attack: 4 x 500 lb GP Bomb

and

Morning Air attack on Boela , at 80,110

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid detected at 30 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 9 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 12
A6M3a Zero x 15
Ki-43-Ia Oscar x 3
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 2

Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 3

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
B-17E Fortress: 2 damaged

Airbase hits 2
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 5

[Cap Mandrake]

Fortuantely, the 24's arrive over Mankwari after th eJap fighters are dealt with.

Morning Air attack on 1st Raiding Regiment, at 85,109 (Manokwari)

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid spotted at 11 NM, estimated altitude 8,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 3 minutes

Allied aircraft
B-24D Liberator x 6

No Allied losses

Japanese ground losses:
17 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

and

Morning Air attack on 1st Raiding Regiment, at 85,109 (Manokwari)

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid spotted at 33 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 11 minutes

Allied aircraft
LB-30 Liberator x 5
B-24D Liberator x 6

No Allied losses

Japanese ground losses:
7 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled